Golf course worker intubated after bees sting him 2,000 times, Arizona firefighters say

A maintenance worker was intubated after a swarm of bees stung him almost 2,000 times at an Arizona golf course, firefighters said.

The man, reportedly in his 50s, was working at the Pebblebrook Golf Course in Sun City West when a swarm of bees attacked him, according to a news release by Arizona Fire and Medical Authority.

“We thought it was grass clippings on his face but as we got closer, we realized those were actually bees,” crew members said.

During his rescue, firefighters dressed in bee hoods hosed down the bees with a foam to calm them, the release said.

The man was taken to a local hospital where as of Aug. 21 he remains intubated, fire officials said.

They said the hive was disturbed, but it’s unclear what exactly led up to the attack.

Arizona Fire and Medical Authority urge the public to head to shelter as soon as possible if bees start to attack, officials said.

Sun City West is about 25 miles northwest of Phoenix.

This story was originally published August 21, 2023 at 3:58 PM with the headline "Golf course worker intubated after bees sting him 2,000 times, Arizona firefighters say."